Here’s My Card

You’d think the internet would have wiped out business cards by now. With easy access to company websites, social media, and online networking groups, it’s fairly easy to seek out other professionals in your field, perhaps with the exception of celebrity CEOs. So as the world continues to turn more digital, how have paper business cards wiggled their way into the future? We think it’s because they’ve evolved. Here are five of the best business cards we’ve collected, along with some tips and tricks to make your business cards look so good, Patrick Bateman would kill for ’em.

☜ Tough as Metal

Working with metal is part of the job when you’re in the business of restoring prewar vehicles and classic muscle cars. That’s why Jim Sullivan, owner of Jim’s Classic Garage in Gig Harbor, decided to lean into cards made from the same material as the vehicles into which he breathes new life.

Why it works:

◉The added heft of each weighty card almost guarantees it won’t be destined for the landfill, like so many of its paper brethren.

◉The reflective front gives the card an alternative purpose, acting as a mirror in which recipients can check their hair or refresh their makeup.

◉The cards may cost $3.75 each, but they never fail to leave an impression or act as a conversation piece, according to Sullivan. “Especially when I put my hand out and ask for $5,” he laughed.

☜ Your Wish is Their Command

When cellphones reach the point of no return, the folks at Federal Way-based Gadget Genie work to magically recover precious photos and data from dead devices — poof! Though the work Gadget Genie is doing certainly is a game-changer, managing partner Norm Chung said he likes a very clean, no-nonsense business card.

Why it works:

◉Like many contemporary cards, Chung opted for rounded edges over the more traditional square edges because he thought it accented the gentle curves in the business’ logo.

◉Though a one-sided design could have saved Chung some money, he said he prefers a two-sided design. “It provides a nice contrast and provides a different perspective on the brand,” he said.

☜ Made for the Northwest

This card might be too small to act as an umbrella on a typically rainy Pacific Northwest day, but it will stand up to the occasional spilled drink. Like all its products, Tacoma-based Rite in the Rain produces its business cards imbued with its own “special sauce” to protect them from moisture.

Why it works:

◉Not only does the card act as a demo for Rite in the Rain’s moisture-repelling paper, but it even mirrors the design of its own notebooks. “If handed one of our cards, anyone familiar with our product would immediately note the shared style,” said Rite in the Rain Product and Media Manager Jim Kopriva.

◉On older iterations, company designers were able to squeeze in sketches of the company’s full line of all-weather paper products on the back of rainboot-yellow cards. New cards are printed with the company’s signature grid on the back, perfect for jotting down a quick note.

☜ It’s Not Business; It’s Personal

Admittedly, the folks at Tacoma-based Rusty George Creative have a leg up on the competition because they literally are in the business of designing, well, business cards, among other branded materials. But we found the company’s highly individualized cards to be a breath of fresh air. This is perhaps because the cards were a team collaboration, according to the company’s principal, Rusty George.

Why it works:

◉Sketched portraits of each employee adorn their cards, helping the recipient match a name to a face, weeks or even months after an initial meeting.

◉The majority of the card’s front (or back?) is dedicated to a lengthy list of the employee’s likes and hobbies. “When someone hands you their card, you have to feign some interest in it for an awkward minute,” George said. “We figured, why not add some information that people would find interesting?”

☜ A Touch of Class

From a Bloody Mary with “substantial garnish” to its tasty paella to its decadent crème brulée, everything on Bar Bistro Tacoma’s menu is unique and memorable. So, too, are the sleek black cards that Eric Poulin, the eatery’s owner and operator, chose to represent his business. “My goal was to create a card that looked and felt valuable,” Poulin said.

Why it works:

◉Poulin opted to include a raised, embossed logo on thick cardstock, elevating the card’s tactile game, making it easy to fish out of a pocket or purse.

◉Though one would expect the embossing to impact the readability of the card’s back side, the contrast of white type on black has no trouble standing out.

◉The card is matte, but includes glossy, miniature hamburgers, martini glasses, and wine bottles, adding another tactile element that can be felt and seen by the recipient.